Roof



C. A. STATLER.

ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-29,1918.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920 4 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. A. STATLER.

ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. I918.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- C. A. STATLER.

ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1918.

Patented'Dec, 21, 1920.

4SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wen'for iiiiiiiii c. A. STATLER.

ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. I918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'2 3 46 v 4i 44 4f Pdtented Dec. 21.1920.

CHARLES A. STATLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed March 29, 1918. Serial No. 225,403.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. STATLER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Roofs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in roofs and has special referenceto roofs constructed of flexible waterproof sheet roofing materialcommonly made of a wool felt base impregnated with asphaltum or thelike.

Among the several objects of my invention are to provide a system ofroofing which shall result in producing a better and tighter roof of theclass mentioned than has been possible by the methods heretofore in use;which roof, considering its quality, shall cost less; and in which thevarious sheets composing the roof shall be so sealed together and themetallic 'fasteners so arranged that no water can seep or leak throughto the fasteners.

A further object of my invention is to provide a roof made of theflexible roofing material, which shall be highly ornamental inappearance and which shall in general simulate an earthen tile roof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a roof construction,including the use of the roofing material in an elongated strip form,and so secured by metallic fasteners that the fasteners are sealedbeneath the roofing material against contact with any watfer which mayfall or collect upon the roo A further object of my invention is toprovide a roof of flexible material such as ready prepared roofing insheet form and covered with a grit material-embedded in the asphaltummaterial of which the roof is partly composed, the roof being so formedthat the flowing of water or sliding of snow thereon is impededsufliciently to materially assist in the preservation of the roof andwhereby the grit coating is prevented from being washed off, as occurswith ordinary flat roofing of this character.

A further object of my invention is to provide a roof of the characterdefined, having ridges or steps and having colored grit embedded on itsexposed surface to simulate earthen tile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a roof composed of theflexible material and having roof ridges, hip-rolls,

gable ends and other roof trimmings and parts constructed of theflexible roofing material and which shall be water tight withoutcementing, easily fastened in position without leaving any fastenersexposed and which shall simulate the trimmings used in the constructionof an earthen tile roof.

A further object of my invention is to provide cooperating membersformed "of the flexible roofing material for use in constructing ridges,hip-rolls, etc., which shall be so formed that they automaticallyprovide light joints between adjacent members and are adapted to befrictionally held in place.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gutter or roof edgeconstruction involving the use of the flexible roof material which shallresult in a durable gutter of neat appearance and low cost and whichshall give the roof the appearance of being constructed wholly of tile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a roof constructionwhereby the use of sheet metal in the making of the roof, especially inthe construction of gutters and the like, shall be eliminated to the endthat the roof. shall be more durable and more cheaply constructed thanthose commonly made.

Further objects as to the ease of construction of the finished roofridge, the gutter, the hip-roll, gabled ends, etc., will appearhereinafter.

My invention consists generally in a system for covering a roof withwaterproof flexible material in sheet form, to make the roof water tightand which includes the securing of the top surface of the roofingmaterial down upon the roof boards along one edge and then the turningof the flexible sheets over and upon the secured edge or portion thereofwhereby the securing metallic fasteners or nails are effectually coveredand sealed from contact with any water which may fall on or collect uponthe roof.

My invention also consists in a system, as described, which results inan appearance quite similar to a tile roof but which is wind and weathertight and of much less corresponding weight than a tile roof.

My invention also consists in a roof covered with flexible roof materialin sheet form which is secured to the roof boards by metallic fastenerssuch as nails and which fasteners are so covered that they cannot beexposed to view or to the weather without 30 Fllg. 1; v

v igs. and 6, are vertical sectional views first destroying or removingthe overlying layer of the flexible roofing material.

My invention also consists in a roof of the material described having aseries of transverse or horizontally disposed baffles, ridges, stops ordams, which impede the flow of water down the roof and serve to preventsnow slides.

My invention also consists in the several features of construction andin the various arrangements and combinations of devices and partswhereby I am enabled to attain the above mentioned and other objects andall as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims. My invention will be more readily understood byreference to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification and in which Figure 1, is a fragmentary perspective viewof a roof embodying the several features of my invention;

Fig. 2, is a vertical transverse section of the roof on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1

Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional view of the roof through the hip-roll onthe line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, is a vertical sectional view of the roof through the gable onthe line 44 of of the roof edge particularly illustrating theconstruction of the gutter and taken substantially on .the line 5,5 ofFig. 1;

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of gutterconstruction;

Figs. 8 and 9, are fragmentary vertical sectional views of the roofsubstantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the method oflaying the sheets or strips composing the finished roof;

Figs. 10 and 11, arevertical sectional views of the roof taken hroughthe ridge and showing the method of constructing the finished ridge;

Figs. 12 and 13, are sectional views of the roof taken substantially onthe line 13-13 of Fig. 1 and showing the construction of the gable ends;

Fig. 14, is a cross-section of the roof through the hip-roll and takenon the line 14-44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15, is a perspective view of one of the U-shape formed pieces used,in the construction of the hip-roll;

Fig. 16, is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the rooftaken through the ridge and illustrating a modified form of the ridgeconstructions,

Fig. 17 1s a fragmentary vertical section of the roof shown in Fig. 16and taken on the line 1717 of Fig 16; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the preferred form offlexible roofing material.

, gable end and 5 is the hip Roofs, as usually and commonly constructedof the flexible roofing material, are made of sheets of various sizeslaid and S81 cured in overlapping relation and providing substantiallyflat roofs, or in other words, roofs having no ridges, projections, orornamentation, except possibly printed or colored substantially flatfigures or lines formed on the roofing material.

As shown in Fig. 1, I build the main part of the roof of elongatedsheets or strips 1 of the flexible material, 2 is the ridgeof the roof,3 is the lower edge or eave, 4 is the -roll.

In constructing or laying the roof I first prefer to provide a verticaledge board 6 for the eave to form with the roof 7 itself a space for thegutter, and in beginning the laying of the roofing material I first takea strip 8 of the roofing material and secure one edge of it to the upperedge of the board 6 by means of a clamping strip or bar 9 which may havethe form of a round rod as and the sheet 8 by nails 10 which I drivedown through the rod the edge of the sheet and into the upper edge ofthe board 6. In the position shown in Fig. 5 of the sheet 8 the top orweather surface 11 is arranged on the inside or toward the board 6.

Having secured the edge of the strip, as shown in Fig. 5, I turn thewhole strip over and upon the roof and form it down into the shown inFigs. 5 and 6. I secure this rod gutter space to form a gutter 12, asshown in Fig. 6, the free edge of the sheet extending up upon the roof7. In thus turning the sheet over I cover the rod 9 and the nails 10.edge of the sheet 8 upon the roof 1 secure it in position by nails 13.Having thus formed the tter I then proceed to the construction of isroof itself, and this I do in the manner best illustrated in Figs. 8 and9. the upper edge of the previous edge having been secured as heretoforeexplained. I next arrange a second sheet 14 upon the first sheet andwith its weather face in contact therewith, its upper edge 15 paralleland coincident with the upper edge of the sheet already laid, and Isecure the upper edge 15 of the second sheet in position bymeans of astrip of wood 16 which I nail upon the roof and upon-the upperoverlapped edges of the two sheets by means of nails 17, and whereby theedge 15 of thesecond sheet and the upper edge of the lower sheet arefirmly clamped together and held in position upon the roof. It will beunderstood that the two weather surfaces of the two sheets are incontact beneath the strip 16 and that the grit with which theyoarecoated serves to hold them against any possible relative movement.Furthermore, the pressure caused by the nailing ofthe strip 16 upon theroof and the heating of the roof by For temporarily holding the upperthe sun finally causes the asphaltic material of which the sheets arepartly composed to soften and effectually seal the strips together alongtheir secured edges below the stri 16. 7

aving secured the edge of the second sheet upon the upper edge of thefirst sheet as described, I next turn the second sheet up upon the roofover the strip 16, thereby covering the strip 16 and the nails 17, andproceed with further strips until I reach the ridge.

The sheets 1 are thus secured along their horizontal edges and aresealed together by means of the strips 16 and nails 17 and theamalgamating of the materials of which the sheets are made so that thefinal product is a water tight roof having no openings through whichwater can seep or leak, even if the Water stands upon the roof to someappreciable depth. Furthermore, the use of the strips 16 and the turningof the flexible material over these strips provides a roof having steps18 of appreciable depth and the depth of the steps 18 can be made tosimulate the edges of earthern tiles which are usually about one-half tothree-quarters of an inch in depth at their lower edges, and Ipreferably use a grit coating on the roofing material in color similarto the color of tiles which it is desired to simulate.

A very valuable feature of my invention resides in the fact that theconstruction lends itself particularly to the covering of old shingleroofs because the strip 16 can be nailed securely in place above or uponthe old shingles, pressing and holding them down tight, and the clampingstrip provides a solid, firm and substantially rigid foundation for theroofing sheets which avoids the water catching hollows produced bynailing the sheets directly to the roof and particularly when the sheetsare secured-on top of old shingles. Furthermore the space 19 beneath theroofing strips 1 leaves ample room for the old shingles without thedetrimental feature of the forms of the old shingles showing through thefinished roof. This particularly results from the fact that I make thestrips 1 relatively narrow, to simulate tiles which are usually eight ornine inches in length, and consequently the weight of the strips 1 isnot sufficient to cause them to be formed down upon the shingles even ifthe roofing material becomes softened in summer by the sun.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of the gutter. In this formI secure the first edge of the gutter sheet 8 to the outer surface .ofthe board 6 by means of a wood strip .20 and nails 21 and then I turnthe sheet 8 over as in the first instance to form the gutter. In thisform also the nails which secure the first edge of the sheet are coveredfrom the weather.

In covering the two sides of the roof I run the upper edge of the lastsheets up upon the ridge member 22, Fig. 10, and then I proceed to coverthe ridge member 22 as follows: I take a long strip of the roofingmaterial 23 and lay it upon the roof with one edge adjacent to the ridgepole 22, as shown in Fig. 10, and secure it in position by means of awood strip 24 and nails 25, as shown in Fig. 10, and with its weathersurface down upon the roof. I then secure a second wood strip 26 alongthe other edge of the roofing strip 23 with nails 27 and form theroofing strip 23 around upon and over the nails 27, as shown in Fig. 10.I then turn the strip 23 up and'over the ridge pole into the positionshown in Fig. 11 and drive the nails 27 down into the roof on theopposite side of the ridge pole. The nails 25 and 27 are thus completelyinclosed and protected against any moisture or water.

In Fig. 14 I have illustrated the manner of constructing the hip-rollparticularly to simulate a tile roof. I provide a longitudinal ridge 28rising above the general surface of the roof and I carry the ends of theroof strips 1 up upon the sides of this ridge 28, as shown in said Fig.14, and I cut the wood strips 16 somewhat short of the ridge 18 so thatI can substantially eliminate the steps 18 adjacent to the ridge 28. Iprovide trough-like or U-shaped members 29 formed of the roofingmaterial and preferably provided with a sheet metal inner member 30 oflike form. This member 29, as best shown in Fig. 15, is coveredcompletely on its outer surface with the roofing material, and Ipreferably turn the roofing material under or within the member 30 atone end, as shown at 31, and also within the side edges as illustratedin Figs. 15 and 16.

I preferably formthe members 29 so that when put in place the smallerends will hug the ridge 28 and the larger ends will tightly hug thesmaller ends; this is possible as the side walls of these members areyielding,

whether the members are lined with sheet metal or not.

As best shown in Fig. 3, I provide between the metal form and the outersurface a thickening or padding 32 adjacent to lower ends of the members29 so as to make these lower edges of the lower ends thicker tocorrespond with the steps 18 on the roof. The metal inner members 30terminate below the upper ends 32 of the member 29 and I secure themembers upon the ridge 28 by nails 33 which I drive through these upperends. I may, as in the formation of the covering of the roof ridge,provide nails 34 which project through the lower ends of the member 29,the heads thereof being beneath the covering of flexible roofingmaterial and the nails being in position to be driven down into theridge 28 and through the upper end of the next lower member 29, as bestshown in Fig. 3.

In forming the gable-end 4 I proceed quite similar to the forming of thehip-roll, except that I allow the roofing strips 1 to extend to the edgeof the roof, cutting the wood members 16 short of the end of the roof,as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. I then lay short pieces 35 of the roofingmaterial with their faces in contact with the roof and their outer edges36 even with the edge of the roof and I secure them in such position bmeans of the wood strip 37 and nails 38. hese pieces 35 are slightlylonger than the width of the strips 1 and I form their lower ends byturning the lower ends under and padding them to make them thick so asbest to simulate tile. I then prepare the other edges 36 of the pieces35 by securing thereto wood strips 39 with nails 40 and having the nailheads covered, as shown in Fig. 12, and I then turn these strips 35 upand over the wood strip 37 and secure the free edges of the pieces 35 tothe outer end of the gable, as shown in Fig. 13, by driving the nails 40into the edge of the roof. The nails 38 and 40 are thus completelysealed against the weather.

In some instances it is desirable to make the ridge of the roof tocorrespond more closely with tile construction and for this purpose Iuse U-shaped members 41 similar to the hip-roll members 29, that is,they are formed preferably with sheet metal cores 42 and havin an outercoating of the roofing material 43 ormed over same, and I form theroofing material around and within each end of the core, as shown inFig. 16 and also around and within each lateral edge of the core, asbest shown in Fig. 17. I alternate these members 41 upon the ridge 44with smaller similar U-shaped members 45 which may or may not have ametal core. In making the members 41 I preferably thicken the ends bymeans of pads 46, as best shown in Fig. 16, so that the finalconstruction will best simulate tiles. As in the case of the hip members29, I make these U-shaped ridge members yielding and 'so form them as tocause the outer members to tightly hug the inner members when placed inposition on the ridge.

In arranging the members 29 of the'hiproll and the members 35 of thegable end I preferto place their lower ends substantially in alinementwith the steps 18, as shown in 'Fig simulate a tile roof.

In Fig. 18 I have shown a section of the flexible roofing material whichI prefer to use in practising my invention. The base or foundation ofthe roofing is a sheet of wool felt or some similar fibrous material 50.This is impregnated with a waterproofing material such as asphaltum, andthe lower 1, so as to make the roof best surfaces may be covered with apaper sheet 51 to prevent the roofing stickin together when rolled upfor shipping. he top or weather surface is usually provided with a layer52 of the asphaltum in which is embedded and secured acoating orcovering 53 of grit, sand or gravel. This grit coating may be made ofany color to suit the conditions.

It will be understood that the roofing material, as prepared for thispurpose, is sufliciently flexible to permit the forming of the sheetsaround the clamping strips without destroying the waterproof quality ofthe sheets at this point, and in producing the U-shaped members 29 and41. I sometimes heat or warm thepieces of roofing material to softenthem before formin them around the thin ends and edges of t e metalliccores.

It will now be clear that by means of my invention I am enabled toroduce a roof, made out of the flexible roo ng material, in which nonails or other metallic fasteners are exposed to the weather or to whichwater can seep or leak, even when the water collects to an appreciabledepth upon the roof.

Also that I am enabled, by means of the novel manner in which I securethese sheets upon the roof, to simulate a roof constructed of earthentile, and furthermore that such construction provides a roof havinghorizontal baffles, ridges, stops, or dams, which serve to prevent therushing of water down the roof or the sliding of snow down the roof,both of which are more or less destructive to the roof, and that thewashing off of the grit from the roof by the water flowing down is thussubstantially completely eliminated.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves toone skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine my invention to thespecific details of construction herein described.

I claim:

1. In a roof of the character described a ridge, means covering saidridge comprising U-shaped members composed of waterproof fibrousmaterial, said members arranged in a longitudinal series on the ridgewith adj acent ends in overlapping relation, and U- shaped relativelyrigid forms within some of said members for retaining them in shape.-

terial back within the member and adapted to be arranged in endoverlapping relation with other similar members for covering a roofridge.

The improvement herein described, describing a U-shaped cover memberadapted for use with similar devices for covering a projecting ridge ona roof, and comprising a sheet metal U shaped trough-like form member,larger in diameter at one end than at the other end, a waterproofflexible cover such as roofing sheet on the outer surface of said form,the lateral edges of the sheet turned over upon the inner surface of theform at its longitudinal edges,thereby thickening said edges, the sheetalso turned within the form at the larger end thereof, therebythickening said larger end and said sheet projecting beyond the smallerend of the form, the larger end of the member being adapted to overlapthe smaller end of a similar member in use.

4. In a roof covering construction, a pro jecting ridge, roof coveringmaterial on the roof, having its edges projecting upwardly on the sidesof the ridge, and U-shaped, relatively short roof members on the ridge,the inner surfaces of the sides thereof overlapping and engaging theopposed surfaces of the upturned edges of the roofing material.

5. In a roof covering construction, a proecting ridge on the roof, roofcoverlng sheets composed partly of asphaltum or the like, having theiredges turned upwardly in contact with the sides of the ridge, andU-shaped trough-like members covering the ridge, the lateral edgesthereof overlapping the adjacent edges of the roofing sheets, saidmembers composed of the same material as the roofing sheets and at leasteach alternate member having a formed sheet metal core for retaining itin shape.

6. In a roof covering construction, a proj ecting ridge, U-shapedtrough-like members for covering the ridge, said members formed offlexible roofing material composed in art of asphaltum or the like,alternate mem ers having sheet metal cores for holding them in shape andsuch cored members overlying the uncored members at their ends.

7. In a roof of the character described, a ridge, U-shaped memberscovering said ridge, said members arranged in a longitudinal series onthe ridge with adjacent ends in overlapping relation, and U-shapedrcsilient forms Within some of said members.

8. The roof ridge covering member herein described, comprising a sheetmetal U-shaped trough-like member, a Waterproof sheet of flexiblematerial arranged on the outer surface of the sheet metal member, thelateral edges of the waterproof sheet formed around and within thelongitudinal edges of the U-shaped member.

'9. The roof ridge covering member herein described, comprising a sheetmetal U-shaped trough-like member, a waterproof sheet of flexiblematerial arranged on the outer surface of the sheet metal member, thelateral comprising a roof having a projecting ridge,

roof covering material on the roof having a grit coated weather surface,the edges of the roofing material extending upwardly on the sides of theridge, and U-shaped ridge covering members having grit coated inner sidesurfaces adapted to contact with the grit coated surfaces of theup-turned edges of the roofing material.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set t my hand this 22nd day ofMarch, A. D. 1918.

CHARLES A. STATLER.

